The Incriminating Letter

Ji-li returns from her work harvesting in the country. One of her father's colleagues came to talk to Ji li's mom about an important government letter. The letter was a complaint about the Rebels at the theater that Ji-li’s dad works at. She knew that if people from the theater saw the letter, their family would be condemned. Ji-li’s mother came rushing upstairs to say that the people from the theater were coming. Ji-li’s mom gave her the letter and told her to hide it. Ji-li had no idea where to put it and she rushed around their apartment frantically. She finally buried it under the ashes in their cat’s litter box. Then she came downstairs, just to find the theater people taking all her possessions away forever. One of the people searching the house asked Ji-li where the letter was. They made Grandma face the wall on her hands and knees. Ji-li and her family thought it was horrible to watch Grandma suffer, but still did not tell.

Sweeping

After the search through the house, Ji-li sees her dear old grandma sweeping the streets. She was being punished for being found as a landlord's wife. After Ji-li's mom talked to Ji-li about becoming in charge of her brothers and sisters she realizes that even though she had been strongly been thinking of becoming an educable child, she had really been there for her family all along.

Epilogue

After Chairman Mao’s death, people realized that he had really taken advantage of their trust and loyalty. Ji-li and her family moved to the United States thirty years later. When she moved to the states, she was amazed be how free the people acted and they weren’t afraid to be embarrassed by anyone.